The Worst Bigot Award

Yes, I'm renaming it The Worst Bigot Award and the reward is a crate of books on humanities with the stipulated agreement to be signed by the recipient that he or she would read and study them to my satisfaction. (well, my semester study of Islam has taught me it isn't necessarily a religion for bigots).

Apparently, someone deserves it today. As reluctant as I am to drag in a religious figure, I'm a fair guy who'll give it to whoever he or she is, regardless of race, color and creed. This award goes to the state mufti, Datuk Haji Ahmad Alawi Haji Adnanof of non-Islamic Sabah in a non-Islamic Malaysia for issuing a Taliban-styled fatwa (religious edict) against the erection of religious statutes in Sabah state.

Remember the Taliban? In Afghanistan, the ruling Taliban regime blew up the historical ancient huge Buddhist statutes, using dynamite. The world and people of all faiths widely condemned them and eventually they were toppled when Uncle Sam got rid of these vermin following 9/11.

Well, you see, if I ignore this mischief-maker now without exposing him to all and sundry, he might attempt to pull another fast one that will change the socio-political and economic development of Sabah.

Without elaborating, the implications are obvious if this fatwa remains against the Malaysian Constitution.

Make no mistake-I'll closely monitor this case because of my many relatives in Sabah. Here is the news in Sabah's popular English Daily Express News.

DAILY EXPRESS NEWS
Police report over Fatwa

09 December, 2007

Kota Kinabalu: A police report has been lodged against Sabah Mufti, Datuk Haji Ahmad Alawi Haji Adnan for issuing a "fatwa" (religious decree) that forbids religious statues or replicas of human and animals in public places close to the road.

Kanul Gindol, political secretary to the Parti Keadilan Rakyat Vice-President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, said in a statement the fatwa issued in July last year could incite hatred and animosity in a plural society like Malaysia. He said a copy of the Mufti's Fatwa letter together with other related letters were now being circulated in websites, including on the Malaysia Today website.

Kanul said he lodged the report with the Karamunsing district police headquarters. Keadilan said the Mufti's action went against the Federal Constitution which guaranteed the freedom of religion. He also urged the police and ACA to look into whether an abuse of power or corruption had occurred, believing that it was issued in relation to the stopped Mazu project that may have prompted Tan Sri Chong's resignation from the State Cabinet as Deputy Chief Minister-cum-State Tourism and Environment Minister.

Actress berated for going botak.

There are times when I wonder about the sanity of the religious Muslim leaders in a multi-racial secular country (As defined in the Federal Constitution and our Rukunegara) like Malaysia. Bear in mind that in Islamic studies, you hear that the females' hair were considered as objects of tempting desire, causing men to lust and so sin, hence the need to cover them ... which makes me puzzle about the line of logical reasoning by the cited zealous religious human mortals with regard to shaving of the females' head in the following story.

The following report is from Malaysiakini, citing an Associated Foreign Press (AFP) news report.

Actress berated for going bald June 12, 2007

An award-winning actress who shaved her head for a film role has attracted criticism from influential muftis who say her act is unIslamic and sinful. Sharifah Amani Syed Zainal Rashid, 21, drew widespread shock and interest after she went bald Tuesday, with photos of her splashed across the front pages of Malay-language newspapers a day later. But muftis in the conservative Muslim country have called on authorities to issue guidelines to prevent Malay Muslim artistes, especially actresses, from extreme behaviour or dressing, the New Straits Times reported. "Unlike Muslim men, going bald for women is forbidden in Islam. It is sinful for men to act or behave like a woman and vice versa," the mufti of central Selangor state, Mohamad Tamyis Abdul Majid was quoted as saying. The mufti of northern Perak state, Harussani Idris, said Muslim artistes were becoming increasingly daring and warned them against being influenced by the actions of their foreign counterparts. "As Muslims, we should not sacrifice our religion for the sake of wanting to be popular," Harussani was quoted as saying. "I have been observing that nowadays our artistes are becoming too open and daring, either in their actions or attire," he said. "It is only appropriate for the relevant authorities such as the information ministry to introduce regulations to make them toe the line." 'No regrets' A well-known actress, Sharifah Amani is featured in current perfume advertisements with her trademark long, straight hair. She shaved her head for a role in a movie by critically-acclaimed Malaysian independent filmmaker, Yasmin Ahmad. Yasmin's first and best known film, Sepet, broke social taboos by depicting an inter-racial romance between a Muslim Malay girl, also played by Sharifah Amani (photo), and a Chinese boy. The film was attacked by film industry leaders, who said the movie threatened Malay Muslim culture and could corrupt Muslim audiences. Commenting on her decision to go bald, Sharifah Amani was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times Wednesday: "I have no regrets. My hair will grow back." - AFP